Action Alert: East End - Dynamo Stadium or Jail?

As you know, the Dynamo Stadium location is in peril. A recent news report indicated that the City is considering using that site for an inmate processing facility (jail) or crime lab (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/soc/6837680.html). The Dynamo Stadium would bring jobs and economic opportunity to the East End. A jail would bring crime, vagrants and an economic dead zone.
The Dynamos and the City have a longstanding deal in which the team would pay $60 million in stadium construction costs on 12 acres of land the City bought for $15 million in EaDo. The City also has pledged $10 million in redevelopment money to fund infrastructure, such as sewer lines, lighting and other work on the area around the stadium. It is important to remember this is money funded by the District 15 Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (also known as a "TIRZ") and does not come from the regular City budget. In other words, the additional tax revenue created by the soccer stadium would be used to repay the bonds which financed the infrastructure.
What's holding the Dynamo stadium up is the final portion of former Mayor Bill White's plan -- a $10 million commitment from Harris County. Again this would also be funded by the County's portion of the TIRZ and would not come from the regular County budget. If you compare this with the deal for Reliant Stadium this is peanuts and the Dynamos are asking for very little in the way of City and County support. Unfortunately this deal has languished for over 19 months (the time since Mayor White presented it in a letter to County Judge Ed Emmett) without being set on the County agenda. WE NEED THE COUNTY TO MOVE FORWARD!!!!!
The East End Chamber of Commerce was contacted yesterday by Commissioner Sylvia Garcia who stated that she was UNAWARE THAT THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED THE STADIUM! She also stated that if she heard from the Civic Associations and residents that they wanted the stadium that she would support it as well. Commissioner Garcia seemed unaware of any plans for a jail or inmate processing facility at least in terms of a county facility. Commissioner Garcia also stated that she was waiting to hear from the City! She said that the City had not contacted the County in regards to the Stadium since the new administration took office. She is hoping to hear from the City soon.
We MUST show community interest in order
to secure the Dynamo Stadium in the East End.
Commissioners Lee and Garcia are our elected representatives
and they need to hear what the community wants!
Your voice can be heard in many ways:
1. Speak at the next County Commissioner meeting on February 9th and attend Commissioner Garcia's Town Hall Meeting on March 4th. She said that she uses these things as barometers of what the community wants. She has yet to hear the community wants the Dynamo Stadium. To sign up go to www.hctx.net; click on court agenda and then click on Online Appearance Request Form. To send the Commissioner an e-mail, write to: sylvia.garcia@pct2.hctx.net.
2. Write County Commissioner El Franco Lee. Because the proposed site rests mainly in County Commissioner El Franco Lee's district, it is VERY important to write to him first. If the stadium gets built in the East End it will largely be because of El Franco Lee's participation coupled with Garcia's approval. You can email his secretary at bobbie.anderson@cp1.hctx.net or contact him via phone at 713-755-6111.
3. Write Commissioner Sylvia R. Garcia. The proposed site rests partly in her district. You can email her at: sylvia.garcia@pct2.hctx.net. You can also mail a letter to Precinct 2, 1001 Preston, Rm. 950, Houston, TX 77002. Or call her at: 713-755-6220.
4. Finally, write City Hall and tell Mayor Parker that Commissioners Lee and Garcia are waiting to hear from them! Mayor Parker can be reached at: mayor@cityofhouston.net with a copy to: ggarcia@dhja.com and kathryn@kchace.com.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY!!!!